Posted By Sarah Backhouse On January 31, 2008 @ 6:00 pm In G Living | No Comments

Projections for a massive increase in global population – from 6.6 billion in 2008 to roughly 9 billion by 2050 – are already making an impact in the world of design. I’ve noticed recently that each new green item crossing my desk seems progressively smaller, obviously in preparation for a future where space is at a premium.

Luckily for me, having resided in a one-room apartment in Tokyo, I’m not phased by the prospect of ablutions in designer Coco Reynold’s Ladybird bath and vanity unit. The bath itself is actually Japanese style insofar as you sit rather than lie in it — which is far preferable, if you ask me. Also much more environmentally sound, given that it requires far less water to fill. What it lacks in size it makes up for in style. The modular design certainly appeals to my aesthetics, with its clean and colorful look.

The vanity/lid completes the pod-like design and integrates “a step for ease of access into the bath (which) retracts when not in use and opens out with a simple ‘push’ action when required”.

Of course, to really conserve water the Japanese way, we’d share the bath water with family members — after washing yourself outside the bath first, of course. Now, there’s a thought.